Tennessee Looks to Extend Non-Conference Dominance vs. Gardner-Webb on Sunday
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Fresh off a statement win over a top-15 opponent, No. 20/23 Tennessee is back at Food City Center this Sunday for a non-conference matchup against Gardner-Webb.
Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET, and while the Runnin’ Bulldogs may not carry the national clout of recent opponents, this game is another opportunity for the Vols to keep building momentum as the calendar inches closer to SEC play.
A Familiar Foe Returns to Knoxville
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Tennessee and Gardner-Webb, with all three previous contests going the Vols’ way - and all taking place in Knoxville. The two squads met just last season in the 2024-25 opener, and before that, back in Rick Barnes’ first month at the helm in November 2015.
Tennessee has been dominant against the Big South across the board, holding a perfect 29-0 record against current members of the conference. That includes wins over all nine schools, with multiple victories over six of them. Barnes himself is 24-0 against Big South teams, including an 11-0 mark since arriving in Knoxville.
Gardner-Webb’s Uphill Battle
The Runnin’ Bulldogs enter Sunday’s matchup at 2-12, still searching for rhythm in a challenging non-conference slate. They were picked to finish eighth in the Big South preseason poll after an 11-20 campaign last season. Sophomore forward Jacob Hogarth has been a bright spot, averaging 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game - solid production for a young frontcourt player trying to anchor a rebuilding team.
There’s also a bit of a reunion storyline here: redshirt junior guard D.J. Jefferson spent two seasons with the Vols from 2022 to 2024 before transferring to Gardner-Webb. And for head coach Jeremy Luther, returning to Food City Center brings back memories - including a memorable postgame quote last year about the arena’s amenities: “You guys got more refrigerators than any place in America.”
Tennessee Riding High After Statement Win
The Vols are coming off one of their most complete performances of the season - an 83-62 win over No. 11 Louisville.
That victory marked their second AP top-11 win of the year and continued a trend of dominance against the Cardinals. In fact, Tennessee has now beaten Louisville by 20-plus points and held them under 63 in back-to-back seasons - something only one other team has done to the Cardinals in their last 44 games.
With that win, Tennessee now owns 24 victories over AP top-15 opponents in the last five seasons - more than any other program in the country over that span. It’s a testament to the consistency Rick Barnes has built in Knoxville, and it’s backed by the numbers: 209 wins since 2017, tied for seventh-most in Division I.
Jaylen Carey Emerging as Key Contributor
One of the biggest developments for the Vols in recent weeks has been the emergence of Jaylen Carey. After a relatively quiet start to the season, Carey has found his stride.
Over his last five games, he’s averaging 12.6 points and 8.6 rebounds in just over 22 minutes per contest - more than doubling his production from the season’s first six outings. His energy and versatility have added a new dimension to Tennessee’s rotation, especially in the frontcourt.
Home-Court Fortress
Tennessee’s home dominance in non-conference play has become one of the most impressive streaks in college basketball. The Vols have now won 42 straight regular-season non-conference games at Food City Center - a stretch that dates all the way back to the 2020-21 season opener. That streak is the second-longest in program history and just one shy of the all-time mark of 43, set between 1940 and 1949.
Nationally, that 42-game run is tied for fourth among active streaks, matching Akron and trailing only Auburn (65), Baylor (49), and Texas Tech (45). What’s more impressive? Tennessee is one of just two programs - alongside Texas Tech - to go undefeated in 40-plus non-conference home games over the last six seasons.
And they haven’t been stacking wins against cupcakes, either. During this run, the Vols have taken down the likes of Kansas, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Louisville, and Syracuse - all high-major programs with postseason pedigree.
Taking Care of Business Where It Counts
One of the underappreciated aspects of Rick Barnes’ tenure has been how well his teams handle the games they’re supposed to win. According to data compiled by Will Warren of Basket Under Review, Barnes entered the 2025-26 season with a spotless 58-0 record against Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents over the previous five years. Add in Tennessee’s 6-0 mark in those games so far this season, and that streak now sits at 64-0.
Only two other coaches had similar streaks entering the year - Chris Beard (then at Ole Miss) and Duke’s Jon Scheyer - but Beard has since taken a loss, leaving Barnes and Scheyer as the only two still perfect in that category.
The Bigger Picture
Tennessee’s resume speaks for itself. The Vols are one of only three programs - along with Alabama and Houston - to reach the Sweet 16 in each of the last three seasons.
They’ve also made back-to-back Elite Eights, a feat matched only by Alabama and Duke. And in both 2023-24 and 2024-25, Tennessee finished fifth in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, and KenPom rankings.
With Rick Barnes now tied for ninth all-time in Division I wins (844) among coaches with at least 10 years of experience - and tied for the most among active head coaches - the Vols are in elite company.
What’s Next
Sunday’s matchup against Gardner-Webb isn’t just another game - it’s another opportunity for Tennessee to sharpen its edge before the SEC gauntlet begins. It’s a chance to extend a historic home streak, maintain perfection against lower-tier opponents, and continue building the kind of consistency that wins in March.
Tip-off is at 3 p.m. ET, and fans can catch the action on SEC Network+ or tune in via the Vol Network to hear Mike Keith and Chris Lofton on the call.